Page High celebrated in London Open House festival
Page High estate took part in Open House London, the world's largest architecture festival (during which usually closed-to-the-public buildings of notable design are open to visitors).
On September 22nd volunteers from Page High Tenants' Association welcomed two groups of visitors (33 in all) for tours of the estate.
Everyone received a two-side handout about the history of Page High.
Defying grey skies and showers, visitors enjoyed a walk up and down the estate's central street, which, above Matalan on Lymington Avenue and above Bury Road car park on top of Matalan, stands five stories above ground level.
Defying grey skies and showers: Visitors to Page High
The estate is low rise, consisting mostly of ground and first floor apartments and two bedroom maisonettes. But there is also a third floor where there are a handful of homes.
Visitors were shown up to the third floor that offers views over to Alexandra Palace and over to the Shard (which was just visible in the cloud).
Volunteers then took people to a third-story part of the estate that enjoys views of Alexandra Palace, over shopping city and over towards the county court.
Alexandra Palace in the distance: View from third floor
Visitors were even able to have a quick look round one of the volunteer's flats.
From there, the tour went down to the upper deck of Bury Road car park (on top of which the estate sits). People looked over towards the Noel Park estate and Tottenham, and, on the other side of the car park, over to the High Road and our sister estate, Sky City (another rooftop village built five years after Page High).
In Bury Road car park: Page High above the upper deck
There were few cars in the car park, but, with new residential developments on the High Road about to begin (at the former Marks and Spencer and C&A sites), that could change very soon.
Page High Tenants' Association wants the car park to be used. We have been urging the council to make the building safe, properly clean it, and install new lifts.
We have also suggested possible other uses for the car park's upper deck: artists' studios, for instance, or a market, or perhaps a storage facility. Peckham Levels provides a precedent.
Visitors were outraged to hear that Haringey Council had been planning to demolish the car park, and Page High with it, as part of its ill-advised Wood Green Area Action Plan.
The day was a tremendous success. We were touched by people's curiosity and enthusiasm for good design in social housing.
We look forward to Open House again next year.
Left to right: Adrian, Larry, Julian from tenants' association